Grip sheath used for a golf club class

ABSTRACT

A grip sheath used for a golf club includes a tapered, elongated hollow body made of an elastomer. The tapered, elongated hollow body has an open end and a closed end opposite to and larger than the open end. The hollow body is formed with a longitudinal central hole extending from the open end towards the closed end and with a plurality of longitudinal blind bores extending from the closed end towards the open end. In addition, the longitudinal blind bores are arranged around the longitudinal central hole. Therefore shock may be significantly absorbed at the grip sheath when a ball is hit by the golf club.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a grip sheath used for a golf club and, more particularly, to a grip sheath which significantly absorbs the shock when a ball is hit by the golf club and allows the ball to fly an improved distance after being hit.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] As shown in FIG. 1, a golf club generally includes a shaft 92 extending from a head 93, and a grip sheath 91 around a distal end of the shaft 92. The grip sheath 91, typically made of rubber, has a smaller open end (not numbered) and a larger closed end 912. A longitudinal central hole 911 extends from the smaller open end towards the larger closed end 912 for the insertion of the shaft 92.

[0005] The grip sheath 91 is further formed in a center of the larger closed end 912 with a through-hole 913, through which pressurized air may be pumped into the central hole 911 in order to inflate the grip sheath 91 for the easy insertion of the shaft 20.

[0006] It has been found that golf players often experience shock or hurt at their wrists even when they hit balls with golf clubs provided with such grip sheathes 91. Additionally, the sheath 91 around the shaft 92 causes the point of gravity of the whole golf club to be a little away from the head 93, and hence the ball is unable to fly as far as possible after being hit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a grip sheath which significantly absorbs the shock when a ball is hit.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a grip sheath which allows a ball to fly an improved distance after being hit.

[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a golf club provided with a conventional grip sheath;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a first embodiment of a grip sheath in accordance with the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a longitudinally cross-sectional view of the grip sheath shown in FIG. 2;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a transversely cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

[0014]FIG. 5 is a transversely cross-sectional view, showing a second embodiment of the grip sheath in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of a grip sheath constructed in accordance with the present invention and used for a golf club.

[0016] The grip sheath includes a tapered, elongated hollow body 10 made of an elastomer, such as rubber or the like. The tapered hollow body 10 has a lower open end (not numbered) and an upper closed end 13 opposite to and larger that the open end. A longitudinal central hole 12 extends from the lower open end towards the upper closed end 13, for the purpose of the insertion of a shaft 20 of a golf club therein.

[0017] Arranged around the central hole 12 is a plurality of longitudinal blind bores 11 that extend from the upper closed end 13, or to be precious, form openings 14 in the closed end 13, towards the lower open end. Each of the blind bores 11 is preferably tapered in shape, as illustrated. These blind bores 11 may also be cylindrical in shape or have any shape that facilitates the formation of the whole hollow body 10 by way of injection.

[0018] The hollow body 10 is further formed in a center of the closed end 13 with a through-hole 15, through which pressurized air may be pumped into the central hole 12 and so the hollow body 10 is inflated for the easy insertion of the shaft 20.

[0019] With the blind bores 11 around the central hole 12, the hollow body 10 feels softer than those in the prior art and thus shock may be significantly absorbed at the inventive grip sheath when a ball is hit by the golf club. It can be appreciated that less amount of material is required to make the hollow body 10, which provides the inventive grip sheath with a reduced weight This means that the whole golf club has a point of gravity nearer or approaching the head (not shown) of the same club, thereby allowing a ball to fly an improved distance after being hit by the golf club.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a second embodiment of the grip sheath in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] In this embodiment, the inventive grip sheath includes a tapered, elongated hollow body 50 that is adapted to be formed by way of extrusion rather than injection. To this end, the hollow body 50 here is formed with a plurality of longitudinal blind bores 51 each having a cross section substantially like a sector. Furthermore, the blind bores 51 have respective channel parts 52 in fluid communication with a longitudinal central hole 53, around which the blind bores 51 are arranged.

[0022] With such blind bores 51 around the central hole 53, the hollow body 50 may also feel softer and shock may be significantly absorbed at the inventive grip sheath when a ball is hit. It can also be appreciated that less amount of material is needed to make the hollow body 50 and the whole golf club has a point of gravity nearer or approaching the head (not shown) of the same club, thereby allowing an improved distance a ball will fly after being hit by the golf club.

[0023] From the foregoing, it is apparent that this invention has the advantages of significantly absorbing the shock resulted from a ball hit by the golf club and of allowing the ball to fly an improved distance after being hit.

[0024] While the principles of this invention have been disclosed in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that these descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and that any modification and variation without departing the spirit of the invention is intended to be covered by the scope of this invention defined only by the appended claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A grip sheath used for a golf club, comprising a tapered, elongated hollow body made of an elastomer, said tapered, elongated hollow body having an open end and a closed end opposite to and larger than said open end, said tapered, elongated hollow body being formed with a longitudinal central hole extending from said open end towards said closed end and with a plurality of longitudinal blind bores extending from said closed end towards said open end, and said longitudinal blind bores being arranged around said longitudinal central hole, whereby shock may be significantly absorbed at said grip sheath when a ball is hit by said golf club.
 2. The grip sheath as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tapered, elongated hollow body is made of rubber.
 3. The grip sheath as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tapered, elongated hollow body is adapted to be formed by way of injection.
 4. The grip sheath as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal blind bores are tapered in shape.
 5. The grip sheath as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal blind bores are cylindrical in shape.
 6. The grip sheath as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal blind bores have respective channel parts in fluid communication with said longitudinal central hole.
 7. The grip sheath as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tapered, elongated hollow body is adapted to be formed by way of extrusion.
 8. The grip sheath as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said longitudinal blind bores have a cross section substantially like a sector.
 9. The grip sheath as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tapered, elongated hollow body has a through-hole defined in a center of said closed end. 